Diathermy smoke: a risk to perioperative practitioners?

The use of diathermy as a cautery device is common practice in perioperative environment, however issues relating to the health and safety of the smoke produced through the vaporisation of tissue may still not be recognised by practitioners. This is despite the use of diathermy dating back to the late 19th century (Pollack et al, 2000). Concerns have been expressed about the components of diathermy smoke (Health and Safety Executive (HSE), 2012), which contains 95% water and 5% cellular debris (Ulmer 2008), including a magnitude of different chemicals, some of which may have mutagenic and carcinogenic potential similar to that of cigarette smoke (Ortolano et al, 2009)

Diathermy smoke: hazardous to health?

The heat used in electrocautery causes cells to boil and explode, or simply dry up, producing a gaseous by-product known as diathermy smoke. This smoke may have mutagenic and carcinogenic potential, similar to that of cigarette smoke (Spearman et al, 2007). A search of electronic databases was performed and selected articles were reviewed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) tool to enable a review of relevant material to be undertaken. The findings of the review identified 45 compounds, 9 of these were found to be hazardous when cross referenced against the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) list of approved workplace exposure limits (Health and Safety Executive (HSE), 2011) and 4 were carcinogens. This research indicates that the use of an extraction device to remove smoke when using diathermy is best practice. However, until more conclusive evidence is available on the actual health risks of diathermy smoke, as opposed to the potential health risks, it will be difficult for organisations that govern health and safety at work to create legislation on the need to extract it from the operating theatre air

Commercialisation of precision agriculture technologies in the macadamia industry

A prototype vision-based yield monitor has been developed for the macadamia industry. The system estimates yield for individual trees by detecting nuts and their harvested location. The technology was developed by the National Centre for Engineering in Agriculture, University of Southern Queensland for the purpose of reducing labour and costs in varietal assessment trials where yield for individual trees are required to be measured to indicate tree performance. The project was commissioned by Horticulture Australia Limited

Wisdom Editing in the Book of Psalms: Vocabulary, Themes, and Structures

This study examines the pervasive influence of post-exilic wisdom editors and writers in the shaping of the Psalter by analyzing the use of wisdom elements--vocabulary, themes, rhetorical devices, and parallels with other Ancient Near Eastern wisdom traditions. I begin with an analysis and critique of the most prominent authors on the subject of wisdom in the Psalter, and expand upon previous research as I propose that evidence of wisdom influence is found in psalm titles, the structure of the Psalter, and among the various genres of psalms. I find further evidence of wisdom influence in creation theology, as seen in Psalms 19, 33, 104, and 148, for which parallels are found in other A.N.E. wisdom texts. In essence, in its final form, the entire Psalter reveals the work of scribes and teachers associated with post-exilic wisdom traditions or schools associated with the temple. This expansive influence of wisdom sources results in part as a response to the failure of the Monarchy and subsequent reshaping of Israel\u27s theology and self-understanding. In this context of foreign domination and failure of the Monarchy, the primacy of Torah and the kingship of YHWH are reasserted and emphasized. Wisdom circles preserve and disseminate Torah as a guide for successful living in accord with God (Pss 1; 19A; 119); wisdom teaching pervades all aspects of life, as seen in the presence of wisdom elements in psalms of lament, thanksgiving, and praise. Creation is a source of revelation and wisdom. Among the most significant uses of wisdom teaching is the Psalter\u27s response to the suffering of the righteous, as seen especially in Psalms 37, 49, and 73. I conclude by proposing that wisdom traditions encompass a variety of viewpoints and emphases, which reveals that these proposed wisdom editors and writers reflect diverse schools of thought. This diverse group of wisdom editors and writers finalized the shape and understanding of the Psalter in the post-exilic period

Design and Applications of Volume Holographic Optical Elements

Volume gratings were studied both theoretically and experimentally in order to design and analyze practical volume holographic optical elements. The diffraction of finite (Gaussian) beams by transmission gratings is investigated. A closed form solution for the off-Bragg profiles is obtained, and the distortion in the resulting profiles is analyzed. Criteria for when the finiteness of the beam has a minimal effect on the angular selectivity response are given. A model is developed to investigate the cross talk in multiplexed gratings Experimental verification in LiNb03 and PTR glass is demonstrated. The diffraction efficiency and output profiles of finite beams diffracted from reflection gratings on and off-Bragg are investigated. Using these beams decreases the diffraction efficiency, and the diffracted profiles are shown to be distorted, with higher distortion off-Bragg. The fidelity is shown to improve with increasing grating strength. The output profiles of diffraction by overlap gratings is investigated. Lateral shift and beam distortion are observed. When the diffraction efficiency reaches 83% the diffracted beam is shown to split into multiple sections. A method is given to obtain a diffracted beam with any desired profile. It is shown that most of the previously mentioned effects can be corrected, however the splitting of the beam at 83% cannot. Multiplexing in reflection gratings is also investigated. A narrow transmission peak is shown to occur midway between the Bragg wavelengths of the individual gratings. By adding more gratings, additional peaks are obtained. Similar devices are designed using thin film stacks. These devices have many advantages, including simpler scaling and no sidelobes. The number of transmission peaks is found using multi-mirror Fabry-Perot interferometer theory, and expressions are given for their location and width. The effects of including the variation in average index when modeling gratings recorded in the presence of absorption is presented. These effects are seen to increase as the grating type goes from un-slanted transmission to un-slanted reflection. Finally, the characteristics of plane waves incident on over-modulated transmission gratings are investigated. It is shown that they will experience one of three types of off-Bragg behavior

Direction and Integration of Experimental Ground Test Capabilities and Computational Methods

This paper groups and summarizes the salient points and findings from two AIAA conference panels targeted at defining the direction, with associated key issues and recommendations, for the integration of experimental ground testing and computational methods. Each panel session utilized rapporteurs to capture comments from both the panel members and the audience. Additionally, a virtual panel of several experts were consulted between the two sessions and their comments were also captured. The information is organized into three time-based groupings, as well as by subject area. These panel sessions were designed to provide guidance to both researchers/developers and experimental/computational service providers in defining the future of ground testing, which will be inextricably integrated with the advancement of computational tools

A giant mystery in giant cell myocarditis: navigating diagnosis, immunosuppression, and mechanical circulatory support.

Giant cell myocarditis is a rare but often devastating diagnosis. Advances in cardiac imaging and mechanical circulatory support have led to earlier and more frequent diagnoses and successful management. This disease state has wide variation in acuity of presentation, and consequently, optimal treatment ranging from intensity and type of immunosuppression to mechanical circulatory support is not well defined. The following case describes the management of a patient with an unusual presentation of giant cell myocarditis over a 10 year course of advanced heart failure therapies and immunomodulatory support. This case highlights emerging concepts in the management of giant cell myocarditis including sub-acute presentations, challenges in diagnosis, and treatment modalities in the modern era

Hereditary Sclerocornea

A rare case of total hereditary sclerocornea is presented along with clinical history, histopathology, and a review of the possible pathogenesis and current literature on the subject. It is quite possible that imperfect cleavage of the anterior chamber angle may be the predisposing factor in scleralization of the cornea due to a failure of neural crest cell differentiation. If surgical intervention to correct for the corneal opacification is indicated, corneal transplantation should be performed as soon as possible after birth, similar to the indications for removal of dense congenital cataracts to avoid deprivation amblyopia